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Variable profile air bag restraint

  • US 20020036400A1
  • Filed: 09/13/2001
  • Published: 03/28/2002
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2000
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. An air bag assembly for cushioning restraint of a vehicle occupant during an impact event, the air bag assembly comprising:

  • an inflatable air bag cushion adapted to be inflated to assume an inflated profile when connected to a gas generating inflator such that upon discharge of inflation gas from the inflator the air bag cushion is inflated to a deployed state from a location of deployment in substantially opposing relation to the occupant;

    at least one profile restraining tether element operatively secured to the air bag cushion at a first point of secure attachment and at a second point of secure attachment such that an operative tethering segment of predefined length extends between the first point of secure attachment and the second point of secure attachment, at least a portion of the operative tethering segment being supported at an interior surface of the air bag cushion by at least one guide element disposed across the interior surface such that the operative tethering segment is moveable in sliding relation through said at least one guide element, the tether element being adapted to be operatively anchored in releasable relation to a support structure separate from the first point of secure attachment and the second point of secure attachment by drawing a portion of the operative tethering segment through said at least one guide element and towards the support structure such that the tether element restrains the inflated profile of the air bag cushion to a first depth when the tether element is anchored to the support structure, the tether element being releasable from anchoring relation to the support structure in response to an activation signal such that the tether element restrains the air bag cushion to a second depth which is greater than said first depth when the tether element is released from the support structure.

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